[mcguire]

"Yes, money can be used to buy power. But it's not power in itself."

Try convincing someone who has to work multiple jobs to support themselves and their family of that.

"A strong meritocracy would focus on giving positions of responsibility (auditing/regulating/decision-making type powers) to people who show the merit to perform them well. Money is an advantage, but it is not the power to shape social systems."

A "strong meritocracy" has about as much chance of existing as a non-corrupt totalitarian or communist system.